Final Exam Preparation: Paper 2
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Transcript Final Exam Preparation: Paper 2
Final Exam Preparation: Paper 2
English Language and Literature Year 1
Paper 2
Six questions about literature
Six HL questions
Six SL questions
Choose the right questions!!
Language B: 6-8 personal response questions
Based on Part III: Literature in Context
Must make reference to at least two works studied in
Part III
Part III Works
G. B. Shaw, Pygmalion
F.S. Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
B. Schlink, The Reader, translated Carol Brown
Janeway
Brainstorm
In a group of three or four, brainstorm some themes
and language devices that are evident in your
assigned work.
Pygmalion
The Great Gatsby
The Reader
Report back to the entire class
in ten minutes
Pygmalion
The Great Gatsby
The Reader
Choosing Questions
Instantly eliminate any question that you
think you cannot do.
Look for questions that appear logical and
straight-forward
Look for topics that work well with the Part
III works we have studied
Prioritize TWO questions that you think you
could tackle
A sample question
Minor characters sometimes play major roles in a
piece of literature. Support this statement by
explaining why minor characters play a central
role in at least two of the literary works you have
studied.
First tear the question apart:
Minor characters
Central roles
What is the function of these minor characters?
How can you turn this into a thesis statement?
Think of some examples
Mrs. Pearce – Pygmalion, reveals Higgins’s character
Jordan Baker – The Great Gastby, foil to Daisy
Sophie the girlfriend – The Reader, foil to Hanna
Michael’s father – The Reader, advances theme
Michael’s mother – The Reader, character
development for Michael
Kaparthy – Pygmalion , foil to Higgins
Clara – Pygmalion, foil to Eliza
The prison warden – The Reader, advances plot
Patterns
Always look for patterns in your
brainstorming:
Character development (indirect
characterization of main characters)
Character foils
Advances theme
Advances plot
Thesis Statement
How could I turn my brainstorming and patterns into
a thesis?
Authors often use minor characters to achieve
several different purposes: achieving indirect
characterization, serving as character foils to major
characters, and advancing plot and theme.
Once you have a great thesis statement that outlines
reasons, then your essay writes itself.
Organization
Argue from specific reasons, not examples.
Specific reasons:
Achieve indirect characterization
Act as character foils
Advance plot and theme
Do NOT argue by literary work
In Pymalion, this is how minor characters work
In The Great Gatsby, this is the function of minor
characters
In The Reader, minor characters do the following.
Specific Examples
Obviously you can’t include quotations
Be as specific and concrete as you can
Don’t summarize!
Start with a main point and then give the example
A quick sample
Example: One of the major functions of a minor
character is to act as a foil to a major character. In
Shaw’s Pygmalion, Kaparthy fills this role perfectly.
Karpathy exudes the charm and social niceties that
Higgins lacks, thus highlighting Higgins’s character.
However, Karpathy also teaches English for financial
gain; he admits to blackmailing the Greek
ambassador. This is clearly distasteful to Higgins and
demonstrates that while Higgins can be a bully, his
motives are pure – or at least less self-serving.
Despite being a minor character, Karpathy’s role in
the play portrays a successful foil to a major
character. Similarly, Jordan Baker from …
Time Management
You have 2 hours
Spend 30 minutes planning
Tear the question apart
Brain storm examples
Identify patterns
Write a thesis
Plan your outline
Spend 60-70 minutes writing
Spend 10 minutes reviewing in reverse
Stress Management
We’ll do all the studying for English in class!
Major factors affecting success on major exams
1. Hours of sleep the night before!
2. Eating breakfast: a balance of protein and carbs
3. Caffeine – but only enough to keep you awake.
Blow off some steam:
Go swimming
Shoot some baskets
Sing an aria
Dance like no one can see you